Over the weekend, Justin Timberlake hosted “SNL” for the fifth time to excellent ratings, and I hate it when that happens. Because whenever JT pulls up for hosting duties, he reminds me of his true worth as a comedic entertainer in this limited capacity. Mind you, the dude is still horrible in comedic film roles (such as his role as Jacques “Le Coq” Grande in The Love Guru) not to mention his film role in general. And he’s still a cocky, terrible person who laughs at “joke” videos with the homeless at his own wedding, but damn if he doesn’t make me forget about all of that when he shouts, “Live from New York, it’s Saturday night!” Hell, if JT actually quit “acting” and putting out music, Lorne Michaels would certainly love to have him as a permanent cast member.
This weekend’s episode was nearly as funny as Justin’s other attempts, and the only reason I detract positive points from JT himself here is that there are so many other quality actors who appeared on this show and pulled attention away from Justin as host and musical guest. Pajiba has posted most of the clips from the episode, but I won’t replicate ALL of them here because some of them are NSFW for language. Instead, here are three clips that are still questionable in some work environments (but you shouldn’t be watching them at work anyway, right?) includng this opening monologue that actually turned into a skit called “The Five Timers Club.” In this clip, JT interacts with Alec Baldwin, Tom Hanks, Paul Simon, Dan Aykroyd, and Candace Bergen. Oh, and Steve Martin too! The Three Amigos jokes are so funny (true fact — I watched that movie as part of my third-grade birthday party), and the skit is a win:
Then Andy Samberg shows up to reprise his role as one of the “D*ck in a Box Guys” with JT as they compete on a dating show against Martin and Aykroyd’s “Wild and Crazy Guys.” Cute skit.
Here’s one of JT’s two musical performances of the evening, and I hate to say it, but this version of “Suit & Tie” (featuring Jay-Z) plays much better than the radio version even though it will never be another “Sexy Back.”
Images courtesy of NBC
He’s a talented douche, much like Beyonce. They just need to shut up and sing.
Justin has always been funny on SNL. I love his music.
Ditto. I actually love JT and I’d totally bang him. Yep I totally would.
Actually, Just A. Limberfake’s “music” sucks but he’s a great comedic actor.
Speaking of Justin and Beyonce, I remember him doing “Single Ladies” LOL!
I still watch that one from time to time!
They’re both talented, hardworking and professional (a word Justin Bieber needs to learn). But they act like they are living legends, which they are not. And they want to be movie stars which they will never be. Especially Beyonce. Girl needs to take a seat because she’s not the best selling woman now, or ever. She doesn’t tour that many countries (she could never sell out a show in Latin America, like pretty much every other pop singer can) and her music is not really that great. We don’t have one true classic yet uf you think about it. Like Britney’s Toxic, or Xtina’s Beautiful.
Totally agree, Annie. Justin is a good comedic actor with quick wits, and a decent singer/performer. That is all. Beyonce is a good singer/performer and barely decent if she has to act. That is all. What happened to picking a lane and staying there, especially if you’re winning?
Part of the problem is the yes-people who help convince these talented celebrities that they are AMAZING at EVERYTHING, when they aren’t, because no one is. A good deal of the backlash is because their fame in one area allows them to make fools of themselves in other areas, on a massive scale. It’s simply celebrity hubris writ large, and it’s f***ing annoying!
Couldn’t have said it better.
“Why is Justin Timberlake so great on ‘SNL’ but so intolerable elsewhere?”
He is an entitled Douche with capital D and has great comedic talent, but in the end of the day he is still an entitled douche.
In addition, SNL have writers that writes the skits for him but he has the comedic timing to pull it off. In the real world where his life is unscripted he’s not clever enough to hide his douchness.
But I still like him as an entertainer.
+1
THIS! SNL writers save the douche!
Agreed! Entitled douche is the perfect description, although I do get the impression that he would probably be fun to be buddies with.
He is great in sketch comedy; I wonder why it doesn’t translate to film. Is it just the roles he chooses? Also I am always pleasantly surprised when someone performs live and sounds good, so kudos to him.
He and his buddies like to make fun of homeless people though.
Because he’s good at SNL and he knows it, but he’s a bad actor and he doesn’t know it. Yet he keeps pushing.
This acting era was obnoxious. He needs to stick at what he knows best.
He actually thinks he´s a great actor, remember his Oscar campaign for TSN?
He and his wifey are so delusional, in love with themselves(not each other), just perfect for each other.
I feel like his mouseketerrs experience is what helps him. Lol.
I thought it was great. I’m not sure why everyone hates him, I thought his music performaces on the show were strong and I think his comedic timing is on point.
I don’t get it either. I think he’s very talented, more so than most singers that dabble in acting as well. I think he’s hilarious and can really sing and dance. Maybe people try to take him to seriously, when clearly, that’s not his MO. But if it’s because of his personal life I think that’s a lame ass excuse. I love DIB. My now husband actually gave me a DIB for Christmas once.. I laughed for hours..
I can’t stand him, but he has been good on SNL. This episode however, recycled past sketches they knew were popular and relied on guest stars – I think there was only 1 or 2 original sketches, and they were flat.
I love him. He’s average in rom-coms, but never get the intolerable douche label.
Because he’s a clown.
Will this asshat ever go away?
I thought it was hilarious, but the skits that were the most successful were repeats. 5 timers club was originally done when Tom Hanks hit 5 hosting gigs.
The ‘in the box’ guys and ‘bring on down to x-ville’ skits are always funny, but are starting to get repetitive. They are the same skits that he always does when he’s on the show. I wish the writers would come up with some new hilarious material.
The sober caligula, the weird ‘maine’ justice skit, and the champagne commercial were all duds IMO.
“Why is Justin Timberlake so great on ‘SNL’ but so intolerable elsewhere?”
I don’t like him on SNL either.
+1
Is it me or did Justin age rapidly this past year?
He looks older than usual.
+1. He looks like a game show host to me these days. Maybe it’s all the relaxer he’s been using in his hair.
Yea he isn’t aging well at all. My mom called when she was watching the show and asked how old he was. She thought he was in his late 30’s now lol. I think the straight hair isn’t helping. I would love to know who talked him into straightening it.
The world needs more Candice Bergen.
I know I use to luv murphy brown.
The same reason few disney kids transition to film roles. All those disney TV shows are essentially skits. The kids are all essentially clowns that can deliver in 3mins or less.
What they all need to do is go to acting school after their disney stints to learn the acting craft and unlearn the habits that make 3min skits funny and great but can’t translate to film.
Perhaps if Justin was hired for SNL for a few seasons, he would learn the craft because of all the people who work on it, and then move into film.
For now, SNL is a grown up mickey mouse club. Speaking of which, have Xtina, Gosling and Britney hosted SNL? Given their mickey mouse club roots, I bet they’d be great. Ditto Amanda Bynes and Miley Cyrus and any disney alumni.
Britney has hosted SNL twice (the last one, Justin guest starred on) and Christina hosted once. Amanda Bynes was on Nickelodeon, not Disney.
whether it’s disney or nicklelodeon, the point remains since they spend their time on the shows performing sketches. All those shows from Raven to Hannah Montana are just sketches.
I thought this was his worst show! Hosting and musically I wasn’t into it. I say that as a fan.
that post title just made me squeal with laughter?
it’s sooooo true!!! 😆
p.s.- am i the only one who lost their sh*t when the 3 Amigos came on the screen???
epic. 😉
Ergh! The clips won’t work for me – NBC won’t allow them or some such nonsense so I must go elsewhere.
But honest to Christmas, just reading those names all together has put me in such a tizzy, I can’t stop squealing!
OK – he was pretty good as host…BUT….I want to know why they brought back all the big names, reunion-style for JT to be the host? These classic, amazing comedians could have carried the skits and overall show on their own – easily. It just sucks he is the one getting all the recognition for the episode, when it still would have been a huge hit without him.
Can’t stand him, and I think he sounds like a girl.
I heard somewhere that when he decided he wanted to get into acting, he took some lessons on how to lower his speaking voice to make it sound more manly- so repulsive that he had to take lessons on that. Its all I can think about when I hear him talk.
I thought it was great and laugh out loud funny! And I don’t find him so much of an entitled douche as sooo many others out there because he has been in this business a long time and has managed to stay relevent. Let’s see if all the other “entitled douches” can do the same. Plus his friendship with JZ makes Kanyeeee jealous. So good for him.
Sorry, but I love JT. He was great in “Friends with Benefits.” He’s such a talented guy and I love that he can pull off sketch comedy. I’m excited for the new album. While I don’t love Suit and Tie, I love the song Mirrors, and also (I think it’s called) Love Pusher that he did on the Grammys.
Having said that, the whole homeless video thing made me sick to my stomach, and I hope he thought a lot about his values after that was brought to light. Yeah, he didn’t film it. But clearly his good friend must have had some idea that JT would find it funny, and that disappoints me.
the expression ‘birds of the same feathers flock together’ exists for a reason. Justin’s friends are a reflection of him. He is as much complicit as the friend. no excuses. they have the same values. if they didn’t, the friend would not have made that video.
Did anybody notice his diss to Kanye?
“My hits so sick…got rappers acting all dramatic”
LOL!! I love me some JT especially his Robin Thick impressions.
While I like some of JTs pop stuff from the past, I do agree that he works well in this format. The sentamentalist in me keeps watching SNL to see if its going to get better but I am usually let down.
Good episode, Steve Martin was great in it and that just made me miss him.
I cannot fathom that this unremarkable dweeb has hosted once – let alone multiple times.
SNL knows how to play to his strengths. I thought he was good in The Social Network (not Oscar worthy) and I think that was less him and more of a good script and director.
He should stick to music.
JT is a mega douche. But, I’ll admit that he is always great on SNL! My favorite skit was Maine Justice. The Nuva Bling was awesome, too!
In every sketch, JT benefited from the huge talent that was with him. He’s good, but that performance showcased the band, background singers and dancers. oh and Jay Z.
A good friend of mine’s dad used to work with JT, and says he was always a sweet guy and very professional when it came to working together. This leaves me conflicted.
(You’ll be happy to know, however, that he also worked with Chris Brown and says he was just as much of a douchey crybaby as he seems in the media.)